Sweeney's mother, Joy Sweeney, said Wednesday a US. Embassy official told the family that any decision on charging or releasing her son was unlikely before Saturday.

The mother also says the family was told the students were questioned late into Wednesday night and that significant progress was unlikely Thursday. She says the embassy official said Friday is a holiday in Egypt and that work is not done on Sunday. There's an election Monday, so it could be Tuesday before a decision is made.